Novel avian herpes virus and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a novel avian herpesvirus (NAHV) vector and recombinant vaccines made therefrom that are useful to immunize avian species against Marek&#39;s disease, infectious laryngotracheitis and Newcastle disease. Methods of immunizing an avian species against Marek&#39;s disease, infectious laryngotracheitis and Newcastle disease are also provided.

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/426,352, filed Oct. 25, 1999; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/804,372, filed Feb. 21, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,753, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. PCT/US95/10245, filed on Aug. 9, 1995, and U.S. Ser. No. 08/663,566, filed on Jun. 13, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,733, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/288,065 filed Aug. 9, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,982, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. PCT/US93/05681, filed on Jun. 14, 1993 and U.S. Ser. No. 08/023,610, filed on Feb. 26, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,648, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/898,087, filed Jun. 12, 1992. The disclosures of all publications, patents and patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to recombinant herpesviruses and, more particularly to a novel avian herpesvirus (NAHV) suitable for use as a viral vector for vaccination of birds against disease.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The ability to isolate DNA and clone such isolated DNA into bacterial plasmids has greatly expanded the approaches available to make viral vaccines. The methods used to make the present invention involve modifying cloned DNA sequences from various viral pathogens of animals, by insertions, deletions, single or multiple base changes, and subsequent insertions of these modified sequences into the genome of the virus. One utility of the addition of a foreign sequence is achieved when the foreign sequence encodes a foreign protein that is expressed during viral infection of the animal. The resulting live virus may then be used in a vaccine to elicit an immune response in a host animal and provide protection to the animal against disease. A virus with these characteristics is referred to as a viral vector, because it becomes a living vector that will carry and express the foreign protein in the host animal. In effect it becomes an elaborate delivery system for the foreign protein(s).

[0004] The application of recombinant DNA techniques to animal viruses in general has a recent history. The first viruses to be engineered have been those with the smallest genomes. For example, in the case of the papovaviruses, because these viruses are so small and cannot accommodate much extra DNA, their use in genetic engineering has been as defective replicons. Thus, foreign DNA sequence expression from these viruses requires a wild-type helper virus and is limited to cell culture systems. On the other hand, for adenoviruses, there is a small amount of nonessential DNA that can be replaced by foreign sequences limiting its utility as a vector.

[0005] Another group of viruses that have been engineered are the poxviruses. One member of this group, vaccinia, has been the subject of much research on foreign gene expression. Poxviruses are large DNA-containing viruses that replicate in the cytoplasm of the infected cell. They have a structure that is unique in that they do not contain any capsid that is based upon icosahedral symmetry or helical symmetry. The poxviruses are most likely to have evolved from bacterial-like microorganisms through the loss of function and degeneration. In part due to this uniqueness, the advances made in the genetic engineering of poxviruses cannot be directly extrapolated to other viral systems, including the avian herpesviruses. The utility of vaccinia as a vaccine vector is in question because of its close relationship to human smallpox and its known pathogenicity to humans. Thus, the use of host-specific avian herpesviruses is a preferred solution to vaccination of poultry. Viral vectoring techniques have been applied to the genomes of several avian herpesviruses (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,121,043, U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,138, and WO061 736A2).

[0006] Marek's disease virus (MDV) is the causative agent of Marek's disease, which encompasses fowl paralysis, a common lymphoproliferative disease of chickens. MDV, a naturally occurring herpesvirus, infects bursa-derived and thymus-derived lymphocytes in chickens, and may subsequently induce a lymphoma of thymus-derived lymphocytes. MDV is a designation of a family of avian herpesviruses. For example, MDV (MDV1) is a virulent strain of herpesvirus in chickens, SB-1 (MDV2) is a naturally attenuated herpesvirus strain in chickens, and HVT (MDV3) is a nonpathogenic herpesvirus of turkey.

[0007] Since Marek's disease is contagious, the virus has become an important pathogen of chickens, particularly in an environment of large scale breeding such as in the poultry industry. The disease occurs most commonly in young chickens between 2 and 5 months of age. The prominent clinical signs are progressive paralysis of one or more of the extremities, incoordination due to paralysis of legs, drooping of the limb due to wing involvement, and a lowered head position due to involvement of the neck muscles. In acute cases, severe depression may result. In the case of highly oncogenic strains, there is characteristic bursal and thymic atrophy. In addition, there are lymphoid tumors affecting the gonads, lungs, liver, spleen, kidney and thymus (Mohanty and Dutta, Veterinary Virology, Lea and Febiger, pubs., Philadelphia, 1981).

[0008] Currently, Marek's disease is controlled by vaccination of embryos at 17-19 days of incubation, or one day old chicks. The principal vaccination method for MDV involves using naturally occurring strains of turkey herpesvirus (HVT) or conventionally attenuated Marek's disease virus (MDV). It would be advantageous to incorporate other antigens into this vaccination, but efforts to combine conventional vaccines have not proven satisfactory due to competition and immunosuppression between pathogens. The multivalent NAHV based vaccines engineered in this invention represent a novel way to simultaneously vaccinate against a number of different pathogens.

[0009] A foreign gene of interest targeted for insertion into the genome of NAHV may be obtained from any pathogenic organism of interest. Typically, the gene of interest will be derived from pathogens that in poultry cause diseases that have an economic impact on the poultry industry. The genes may be derived from organisms for which there are existing vaccines, and because of the novel advantages of the vectoring technology, the NAHV derived vaccines will be superior. In addition, the gene of interest may be derived from pathogens for which there is currently no vaccine but where there is a requirement for control of the disease. Typically, the gene of interest encodes immunogenic polypeptides of the pathogen, and may represent surface proteins, secreted proteins and structural proteins.

[0010] An avian pathogen that is a target for NAHV vectoring is infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV). ILTV is a member of the herpesviridiae family, and this pathogen causes an acute disease of chickens, which is characterized by respiratory depression, gasping, and expectoration of bloody exudate. Viral replication is limited to cells of the respiratory tract, where in the trachea the infection gives rise to tissue erosion and hemorrhage. In chickens, no drug has been effective in reducing the degree of lesion formation or in decreasing clinical signs. Vaccination of birds with various modified forms of the ILTV derived by cell passage and/or tedious regimes of administration have conferred acceptable protection in susceptible chickens. Because of the degree of attenuation of current ILT vaccines care must be taken to assure that the correct level of virus is maintained; enough to provide protection, but not enough to cause disease in the flock.

[0011] An additional target for the NAHV vectoring approach is Newcastle disease, an infectious, highly contagious and debilitating disease that is caused by the Newcastle disease virus (NDV). NDV is a single-stranded RNA virus of the paramyxovirus family. The various pathotypes of NDV (velogenic, mesogenic, lentogenic) differ with regard to the severity of the disease, the specificity and symptoms, but most types seem to infect the respiratory system and the nervous system. NDV primarily infects chickens, turkeys and other avian species. Historically vaccination has been used to prevent disease, but because of maternal antibody interferences, life-span of the bird and route of administration, the producer needs to adapt immunization protocols to fit specific needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is directed to a recombinant avian herpesvirus comprising a herpes virus of turkeys unique long and repeat viral genome region and a Marek's disease virus unique short viral genome region wherein at least one foreign DNA sequence is inserted within the US2 gene of the unique short region of the recombinant avian herpesvirus and wherein the foreign DNA sequence is capable of being expressed in a host cell. In a preferred embodiment, the foreign DNA sequence is selected from the group consisting of a Newcastle disease virus fusion gene, an infectious laryngotracheitis virus glycoprotein D gene, an infectious laryngotracheitis glycoprotein I gene, or combinations thereof.

[0013] In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a vaccine against Marek's disease, Newcastle disease, and/or infectious laryngotracheitis. The vaccine comprises a recombinant avian herpesvirus comprising a herpes virus of turkeys unique long and repeat viral genome region and a Marek's disease virus unique short viral genome region wherein at least one foreign DNA sequence is inserted within the US2 gene of the unique short region of the recombinant avian herpesvirus and wherein the foreign DNA sequence is capable of being expressed in a host cell, and a suitable carrier. Preferably the foreign DNA sequence is selected from the group consisting of a Newcastle disease virus fusion gene, an infectious laryngotracheitis virus glycoprotein D gene, an infectious laryngotracheitis glycoprotein I gene, or combinations thereof.

[0014] The present invention is also directed to a method of immunizing an avian species against Marek's disease, Newcastle disease, and/or infectious laryngotracheitis by administering a vaccine of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0015]FIG. 1 is a comparison of HVT, NAHV, and MDV BamHI endonuclease restriction enzyme maps. Restriction fragments are labeled alphabetically in decreasing order of size. The structure of each virus is indicated below the map. Repeats regions are shown as boxes (open=HVT derived, shaded=MDV derived) and the unique regions are shown as lines (single=HVT derived, double=MDV derived). TRL=terminal repeat long; IRL=internal repeat long; IRS=internal repeat short; TRS=terminal repeat short, UL=unique long region; US=unique short region

[0016]FIG. 2 is a BamHI endonuclease restriction enzyme map of NAHV and the positions of subgenomic clones used in the NAHV construction. Restriction fragments are label alphabetically in decreasing order of size. In the NAHV genome, the fragment corresponding to HVT fragment B is denoted as fragment A′ and the fragment corresponding to MDV fragment A is denoted as fragment B′.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention is directed to a recombinant novel avian herpesvirus virus (NAHV) optionally comprising a foreign DNA sequence inserted into a non-essential site in the NAHV genome. The foreign DNA sequence is capable of being expressed in a host cell infected with the recombinant NAHV and its expression is under the control of a promoter located upstream of the foreign DNA sequence. The foreign DNA sequence encodes a polypeptide, which is antigenic in an animal into which the recombinant NAHV is introduced. More particularly, the foreign DNA sequence is from Newcastle disease virus (NDV) or infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) and the non-essential site in the NAHV genome is the US2 gene.

[0018] We have created recombinant organisms consisting of the unique long (UL) and repeat regions of the herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) and the unique short (US) region of Marek's disease virus (MDV). The genome structure of these recombinant organisms and their parental viruses are compared in FIG. 1. Since these organisms are distinctly different from both of their parent organisms, they represent a completely new type of organism, a novel avian herpesvirus (NAHV).

[0019] These NAHV provide for highly efficacious and safe vaccines that protect poultry from Marek's disease. They combine the strong protective response provided by antigens from their Marek's disease virus parent with the established safety of their herpesvirus of turkeys parent. The NAHV-based vaccines exhibit increased protection against very virulent strains of MDV relative to HVT-based vaccines. However the NAHV-based vaccines retain the same non-pathogenic non-oncogenic safety profile of HVT.

[0020] The NAHV may also be used to create multivalent vaccines against Marek's disease, infectious laryngotracheitis, infectious bursal disease, Newcastle disease, or other poultry diseases. Multivalent viral vaccine strains are created by genetically engineering the NAHV to express antigens from the appropriate disease-causing organism. Several examples of NAHV-based vaccines are described below (examples 1-3).

[0021] As defined herein “a non-essential site in the NAHV genome” means a region in the NAHV viral genome, which is not necessary for the viral infection or replication. A “viral genome” or “genomic DNA” means the entire DNA, which the naturally occurring herpesvirus contains. As defined herein, “foreign DNA sequence” or “gene” means any DNA or gene that is exogenous to the genomic DNA. An “open reading frame” is a segment of DNA, which contains codons that can be transcribed into RNA which can be translated into an amino acid sequence and which does not contain a termination codon.

[0022] An “immunological composition” of the invention, as used herein, refers to any composition that elicits an immune response in an animal. An immune response is the reaction of the body to foreign substances, without implying a physiologic or pathologic consequence of such a reaction, i.e., without necessarily conferring protective immunity on the animal. An immune response may include one or more of the following: (a) a cell mediated immune response, which involves the production of lymphocytes by the thymus (T cells) in response to exposure to the antigen; and/or (b) a humoral immune response, which involves production of plasma lymphocytes (B cells) in response to antigen exposure with subsequent antibody production. The term “vaccine”, as used herein, broadly refers to any compositions that may be administered to an animal to protect the animal against an infectious disease.

[0023] The invention further provides a recombinant NAHV suitable for use as a vaccine against Marek's disease. One example of such a virus is designated NAHV 295-01. This virus is also known as S-HVY-165. The recombinant avian herpesvirus designated NAHV 295-01 is a superior virus vaccine strain against very virulent Marek's disease, in chickens and turkeys, providing the safety of avirulent HVT, with the improved antigenicity of added MDV genes. The NAHV 295-01 recombinant virus vaccine is a superior virus vaccine because a single virus vaccine strain will protect against very virulent MDV. Currently the industry relies on combinations of vaccine strains. Since the NAHV 295-01 virus vaccine strain is genetically defined, it provides superior safety compared to conventional vaccine strains that risk reversion to virulence.

[0024] The present invention also provides a recombinant NAHV suitable for use as a vaccine containing a foreign DNA sequence encoding an antigenic polypeptide from NDV. In such case, it is preferred that the antigenic polypeptide is NDV fusion (F) protein. One example of such a virus is designated NAHV/NDV 295-93. This virus is also known as S-HVY-177. The recombinant avian herpesvirus designated NAHV/NDV 295-93 is a multivalent virus vaccine strain against Newcastle disease and very virulent Marek's disease in chickens. It contains a foreign gene encoding the fusion protein of the Newcastle disease virus inserted into the MDV US2 gene of the NAHV.

[0025] This recombinant virus vaccine has multiple advantages over conventional vaccines. The NAHV/NDV 295-93 vaccine can be administered in ovo without the interference often seen when conventional MDV and NDV vaccines are used. Since the vaccine lacks any NDV virulence genes there is no possibility of reversion to virulence or vaccine induced Newcastle disease. Additionally, the cell-associated nature of the NAHV backbone provides protection from NDV maternal antibody interference. The NAHV/NDV 295-93 recombinant virus vaccine is a superior Marek's disease virus vaccine because a single virus vaccine strain will protect against very virulent MDV. Currently the industry relies on combinations of vaccine strains. Since the NAHV/NDV 295-93 virus vaccine strain is genetically defined, it provides superior safety compared to conventional Marek's vaccine strains that risk reversion to virulence.

[0026] The invention further provides recombinant NAHV containing foreign DNA sequence encodes the antigenic polypeptide from an ILTV and encodes ILTV glycoprotein I and/or ILTV glycoprotein D. One example of such a virus is designated NAHV/ILT 295-149. This virus is also known as S-HVY-176.

[0027] The recombinant avian herpesvirus designated NAHV/ILT 295-149 is a multivalent virus vaccine strain against infectious laryngotracheitis and very virulent Marek's disease in chickens. It contains two foreign genes encoding glycoprotein D and glycoprotein I of the infectious laryngotracheitis virus inserted into the MDV US2 gene of the NAHV. This recombinant virus vaccine has multiple advantages over conventional vaccines. The NAHV/ILT 295-149 vaccine can be administered in ovo providing increased efficiency. Since the vaccine lacks any ILTV virulence genes there is no possibility of reversion to virulence or vaccine induced laryngotracheitis. The NAHV/ILT 295-149 recombinant virus vaccine is a superior Marek's disease virus vaccine because a single virus vaccine strain will protect against very virulent MDV. Currently the industry relies on combinations of vaccine strains. Since the NAHV/ILT 295-149 virus vaccine strain is genetically defined, it provides superior safety compared to conventional Marek's vaccine strains that risk reversion to virulence.

[0028] The novel recombinant avian herpesviruses of the present invention may be used as vaccines or immunological compositions against avian diseases which comprise an effective immunizing amount of a recombinant NAHV of the present invention and a suitable carrier. This invention provides a vaccine useful for immunizing an avian species against Marek's disease, which comprises an effective immunizing amount of the recombinant NAHV, and a suitable carrier.

[0029] This invention provides a vaccine useful for immunizing an avian species against Newcastle disease, which comprises an effective immunizing amount of the recombinant NAHV, and a suitable carrier.

[0030] This invention provides a vaccine useful for immunizing an avian species against infectious laryngotracheitis, which comprises an effective immunizing amount of the recombinant NAHV, and a suitable carrier.

[0031] This invention provides a multivalent vaccine useful for immunizing an avian species against Marek's disease and Newcastle disease, which comprises an effective immunizing amount of the recombinant NAHV and a suitable carrier.

[0032] This invention provides a multivalent vaccine useful for immunizing an avian species against Marek's disease and infectious laryngotracheitis, which comprises an effective immunizing amount of the recombinant NAHV and a suitable carrier.

[0033] Vaccines of the invention may be combined with other vaccines for other diseases to produce multivalent vaccines. For example, the present invention includes, a multivalent vaccine useful for immunizing an avian species against Marek's disease, Newcastle disease and infectious laryngotracheitis, which comprises a mixture of a first recombinant NAHV, a second recombinant NAHV, and a suitable carrier. One example of such a mixture comprises a first recombinant avian herpesvirus designated NAKV/ILT 295-149, a second recombinant avian herpesvirus designated NAHV/NDV 295-93, and a suitable carrier.

[0034] This invention provides an immunological composition which comprises at least one recombinant NAHV and a suitable carrier that elicits an immune response in a host avian species. The immune response can be local or systemic. The immune response can be protective or not be protective.

[0035] This invention provide recombinant NAHV, which express foreign DNA, sequences and are useful as vaccines in avian species including but not limited to chickens, turkeys, and ducks. These vaccines may contain either inactivated or live recombinant virus. These vaccines may contain infected cells. The vaccines of the present invention are administered by any of the methods well known to those skilled in the art, for example, by intramuscular, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, or intravenous injection. The vaccine can be administered in ovo. Additional methods for administration of the vaccine well known to those skilled in the art are, for example, intranasally, intraocularly or orally.

[0036] For purposes of this invention, the term an “effective immunizing amount” refers to the amount of a substance that is sufficient to produce or elicit an immune response. For the present invention, an “effective immunizing amount” of the recombinant NAHV within the range of 10² to 10⁹ PFU/dose. In another embodiment the immunizing amount is 10⁵ to 10⁷ PFU/dose. In a preferred embodiment the immunizing amount is approximately 2000 PFU/dose.

[0037] This invention provides methods for vaccination of avian species against disease. The method comprises administering to the animal an effective immunizing dose of the vaccine of the present invention. This invention provides a method for vaccination of an avian species against Marek's disease. It provides a method for vaccination of an avian species Newcastle disease. The present invention provides a method for vaccination of an avian species against infectious laryngotracheitis.

[0038] This invention provides methods for the vaccination of an avian species against more than one disease. The diseases can be caused by more than one pathogen. A method is provided for the vaccination of an avian species against Marek's disease and Newcastle disease. The present invention provides a method for vaccination of an avian species against Marek's disease and infectious laryngotracheitis. It also provides a method for vaccination of an avian species against Marek's disease, Newcastle disease and infectious laryngotracheitis.

[0039] The term “carrier” refers to a diluent, adjuvant, excipient or vehicle with which a compound is administered. Suitable carriers for the recombinant virus are well known to those skilled in the art and include but are not limited to sterile water, aqueous saline solutions, aqueous dextrose or glycerol solutions, proteins, sugars, etc. One example of such a suitable carrier is a physiologically balanced culture medium containing one or more stabilizing agents such as dimethyl sulfoxide, hydrolyzed proteins, lactose, etc.

[0040] This invention is further illustrated in the Methods and Examples sections, which follow. These sections are set forth to aid in an understanding of the invention but is not intended to, and should not be construed to, limit in any way the invention as set forth in the claims which follow thereafter.

Methods

[0041] Methods for constructing, selecting and purifying recombinant novel avian herpesviruses are detailed below in the materials, methods and examples. The following serve to illustrate certain preferred embodiments and aspects of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope thereof.

Preparation of NAHV Vaccine and Viral Stocks

[0042] Novel avian herpesvirus stock samples were prepared by infecting tissue culture cells at a multiplicity of infection of approximately 0.01 PFU/cell in complete F10/199 medium. All incubations were carried out at 39° C. in a humidified incubator with 5% CO₂ in air. This medium is composed of a 1:1 mixture of Medium 199 and Nutrient Mixture F10 Ham, 2 mM glutamine, 100 units/ml penicillin, 100 units/ml streptomycin, 1×MEM non-essential amino acids (these components are obtained from BioWhittaker or an equivalent supplier) plus 1% fetal bovine serum. After cytopathic effect was complete, the medium and cells were harvested and the cells were pelleted at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes in a clinical centrifuge. Infected cells were resuspended in complete medium containing 20% fetal bovine serum, 7% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and stored frozen at −70° C. For long term storage and shipping virus stocks were stored under liquid nitrogen or in the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen.

Preparation of Poultry Herpesvirus DNA

[0043] For the preparation of HVT, MDV and NAHV genomic DNA from the cytoplasm of infected cells, primary chicken embryo fibroblasts were infected at a MOI sufficient to cause extensive cytopathic effect before the cells overgrew. All incubations were carried out at 39° C. in a humidified incubator with 5% CO₂ in air. Best DNA yields were obtained by harvesting monolayers maximally infected, but showing incomplete cell lysis (typically 5-7 days). Infected cells were harvested by scraping the cells into the medium using a cell scraper (Costar brand). The cell suspension was centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes at 5° C. in a GS-3 rotor (Sorvall Instruments). The resultant pellet was resuspended in cold PBS (Dulbecco's Phosphate Buffered Saline, 10 ml/225 cm² flask) and subjected to another centrifugation for 10 minutes at 3000 rpm in the cold. After decanting the PBS, the cellular pellet was resuspended in 2 ml/flask of cold RSB buffer (10 mM Tris pH 7.5, 1 mM ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, disodium salt (EDTA), and 1.5 mM MgCl₂). One hundred μl of 20% SDS (5 mM final) was added and mixed by rocking. The sample was poured into a 15 ml conical tube. Twenty-four μl of Proteinase K was added and mixed by rocking, then incubated at 50° C. for ≧1 hr. After this period, an equal volume of water-saturated phenol was added to the sample and gently mixed by hand. The sample was spun in a clinical centrifuge for 5 minutes at 3000 rpm to separate the phases. The aqueous layer containing the DNA was transferred to a fresh 15 ml conical tube and the phenol extraction repeated a second time. The aqueous layer containing the DNA was then transferred to a 15 ml corex tube and precipitated by adding one-tenth volume of 3 M sodium acetate (NaAC) and 2.5 volumes of cold 100% ethanol (EtOH). The DNA was pelleted by centrifugation (Sorval, HB4 swinging bucket rotor, 10,000 rpm, 20-30 minutes, 4° C.). The DNA pellet was washed with 80% EtOH and centrifuged again for 10 minutes. The pellet was air dried and resuspended in 300 μl TE. All viral DNA was stored at approximately 4° C.

Molecular Biological Techniques

[0044] Techniques for the manipulation of bacteria and DNA, including such procedures as digestion with restriction endonucleases, gel electrophoresis, extraction of DNA from gels, ligation, phosphorylation with kinase, treatment with phosphatase, growth of bacterial cultures, transformation of bacteria with DNA, and other molecular biological methods are described by Maniatis et al (Molecular Cloning, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1982) and Sambrook et al (Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Press, 1989). The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to introduce restriction sites convenient for the manipulation of various DNAs. The procedures used are described by Innis et al (PCR Protocols A Guide to Methods and Applications, 84-91, Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, 1990). In general, amplified fragments were less than 500 base pairs in size and critical regions of amplified fragments were confirmed by DNA sequencing. Except as noted these techniques were used with minor variation.

DNA Sequencing

[0045] DNA sequencing was performed on the Applied Biosystems Automated Sequencer Model 373A (with XL upgrade) per instructions of the manufacturer. Subclones were made to facilitate sequencing. Internal primers were synthesized on an ABI 392 DNA synthesizer or obtained commercially (Genosys Biotechnologies, Inc., The Woodlands, Tex.). Larger DNA sequences were built utilizing consecutive overlapping primers. Assembly, manipulation and comparison of sequences were performed with DNASTAR programs.

Procedure for Cloning NAHV Subgenomic DNA Fragments

[0046] A library of subclones containing overlapping HVT subgenomic fragments was generated as follows. DNA was obtained from the FC-126 strain of HVT (American Type Culture Collection). It was sheared and then size selected on a glycerol gradient as described by van Zijl et al.,(Journal of Virology 62, 2191-2195, 1988) with 40-50 kb fragments chosen as the insert population. The pooled fractions were diluted twofold with TE (10 mM Tris pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA), one-tenth volume of 3M NaAc and 2.5 volumes of ethanol were added, and the DNA was precipitated at 30K rpm in a Beckman SW41 rotor for 1 hr. The sheared fragments were given blunt ends by initial treatment with T4 DNA polymerase, using low dNTP concentrations to promote 3′ overhang removal, followed by treatment with Klenow polymerase to fill in recessed 3′ ends. These insert fragments were then ligated to a pWE15 (Strategene) cosmid vector, which had been digested with BamHI, treated with calf intestinal phosphatase, and made blunt by treatment with Klenow polymerase. The ligated mixture was then packaged using Gigapack XL packaging extracts (Stratagene). Ligation and packaging was as recommended by the manufacturer.

[0047] Published restriction maps for the enzymes BamHI, HindIII, and XhoI permitted the use of subcloned fragments as specific probes to screen the cosmid library for subclones spanning the genome. Probes were generated from subcloned restriction fragments. The fragments were then labeled using a non-radioactive system (Genius, Boehringer Mannheim). Screening was facilitated by picking colonies into media, followed by growth overnight. Sets of five filters and a master plate were stamped from microtiter dish and again grown overnight. Glycerol was added to the wells to 15% and the plates were frozen at −20° C. to provide stock cultures of each colony. Filters were BioRad Colony Lift Membranes and were treated and hybridized per manufacturer's instructions, and washed in 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS, 65° C. Positive clones, which hybridized with the non-radioactive probe, were detected according to the Genius kit directions.

[0048] Colonies were selected for further analysis on the basis of their hybridization to two or more of the specific probes. These were then digested with BamHI, and compared to published maps of HVT (Buckmaster et al., J Gen. Virol. 69:2033, 1988). The three cosmids (407-32.2C3, 407-32.1C1, and 407-32.5G6) were obtained in this manner. A detailed description of each clone is given below. It was found that chloramphenicol amplification (Maniatis et al., Molecular Cloning, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1982) was necessary to achieve reasonable yields of DNA from these clones. In addition, one cosmid clone (407-32.5G6) was unstable and had to be grown from the original frozen stock in order to obtain satisfactory DNA preparations.

[0049] The pWE15 vector allows the inserts to be excised with NotI. However, four NotI sites are present in the HVT genome, so that inserts spanning these sites cannot be excised with NotI. Two of the NotI sites are present in the BamHI B fragment of HVT, this fragment was cloned directly in pSP64 (clone 172-07.BA2). The other two sites are present in the unique short region within the BamHI A fragment. This fragment was cloned directly in the pWE15 vector. The three sheared cosmids and the two BamHI fragments cover all but a small portion of the ends of the HVT genome. Because these regions are repeated in the internal portions of the genome, all of the genetic information is available.

[0050] Marek's Disease Virus (MDV), GA strain, was obtained from the USDA (Agricultural Research Service Regional Poultry Laboratory, East Lansing, Mich.). In order to clone the short region, a partial SmaI digest of the DNA was performed and run out on a 0.6% low melt agarose gel. DNA fragments running greater than 24 kb were chosen as the insert population and excised from the gel. The DNA contained within the gel slice was extracted by using warm phenol, centrifugation, and then the aqueous phase was precipitated with one-tenth volume of 3M NaAc, an equal volume of isopropanol and centrifugation at 30K rpm in a Beckman SW41 rotor for 15 minutes. The pelleted DNA was then rinsed with 80% EtOH, air dried and resuspended in H₂O. Since the SmaI enzyme leaves blunt ends on the isolated fragments, a blunt end pWE15 cosmid vector was prepared as above. The ligated mixture was then packaged using Gigapack Plus packaging extracts (Stratagene). Ligation and packaging was as recommended by the manufacturer. Colonies were selected for further analysis on the basis of their hybridization to a MDV gD specific probe, and comparison to the published restriction digestion maps.

Procedure for Generating Novel Avian Herpesvirus from Overlapping Subgenomic Fragments

[0051] Overlapping subgenomic fragments were cotransfected into chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells by calcium phosphate precipitation, resulting in the regeneration of the NAHV genome. The regeneration was mediated by homologous recombination across the overlapping regions of the fragments. First, cosmid and plasmid DNAs were linearized using an appropriate enzyme, and purified by phenol extraction and ethanol precipitation. Then, approximately one microgram of each linear fragment was combined in H₂O (300 μl final volume) and 37 μl of a 2.5M CaCl₂ stock was added. Next, 340 μl of a 2×Hepes buffered saline solution (140 mM NaCl, 1.5 mM Na₂HPO₄, 50 mM HEPES (N-[2-hydroxyethyl]piperazine-N′-[2-ethanesulfonic acid]), pH 7.05) was added and gently mixed for one minute at room temperature, to allow a fine precipitate to form. The precipitated DNA was added to a subconfluent monolayer of secondary CEF cells, plate in a 6 cm dish and allowed to absorb to the cells for approximately three hours at 39° C. Media was removed and cells were exposed to a 15% (v/v) Glycerol/PBS solution for one minute. The glycerol solution was removed and the monolayer was washed 3 times with PBS. Monolayers were fed with maintenance media (F10/199, 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 2% glutamine, 1% non-essential amino acids (NEAA), 1% penicillin/streptomycin (P/S)), and incubated at 39° C. The next day media was replaced and incubation at 39° C. continued. Plaques were visible in three to four days. When cells became overcrowded, infected monolayers were passed up to a larger size dish to allow spread of the virus. For passage, media was aspirated, cells were rinsed twice with PBS, aspirated again, then 0.5 ml trypsin-EDTA was added and incubated for 1-3 minutes at room temperature. Cells were pipetted up and down and diluted to 5 ml with maintenance media. The mixture was transferred to a larger dish and incubated at 39° C. When approximately 70 to 80% cytopathic effect (CPE) was achieved the infected cells were harvested by trypsinizing the monolayer as described above, except the cells were resuspended in F10M199 Complete Freezing media. Infected cells were placed on ice and DMSO was added to 7%. After 15 minutes on ice, the cells were frozen at −70° C.

[0052] Stocks were then plaque purified two times. For each purification, stocks were diluted 1 :100,000 in maintenance media and plated on several 10 cm dishes of secondary CEFs. After allowing the infected cells to sit down overnight, the infecting media was removed and replaced with 10 ml of nutrient agarose (0.8% low melt agarose, Media 199, 1% FBS, 2% glutamine, 1% NEAA 1% P/S), melted and cooled to 42° C., then allowed to harden at room temperature. Plates were then incubated 5 days at 39° C., until plaques formed. Isolated plaques were then picked using a glass Pasteur pipette to make a plug in the agarose. The plug containing the plaque was transfered into 24-well dish of CEFs. The dish was incubated 3 days, then each well was passed to a 6-well dish, and then to a 6 cm dish in 3 more days. Cells were grown until a 50-75% cytopathic effect was seen, then harvested as above and frozen at −70° C. A second purification was the performed as described above to obtain the final stock.

Southern Blot Analysis of Novel Avian Herpesviruses

[0053] Total DNA was isolated from a virus stock as described above. One tenth of the resuspended DNA isolated from a flask, 30 μl, was digested in 60 μl volume. Digestions with appropriate restriction endonucleases were performed as directed by the manufacturer. Digested DNA was loaded into a single well on a 25 cm long 0.7% agarose gel, and run overnight at 45 volts. Gel buffer was 0.5×TBE (a 1:10 dilution of 5×TBE).

[0054] Southern blots were performed using Zetaprobe blotting membranes. The alkaline blotting technique for DNA capillary transfer was used exactly as described in the Zetaprobe instruction manual (Section 2.3). The standard hybridization protocol and subsequent washes are also described in the same manual (Section 4.1) except that the membranes are not dried after the final wash. The probe was labeled using the Genius™ non-radioactive DNA labeling and detection kit. Labeling was performed as described in the detection kit instruction manual under section I, “DNA labeling”. One half of the labeled material was denatured by boiling, and added to the hybridization buffer. After the hybridization washes described above, the Zetaprobe filters were treated as described in section III, “Immunological Detection”, of the Genius™ labeling kit protocol.

Black Plaque Assay for Foreign Gene Expression in Novel Avian Herpesvirus

[0055] To analyze expression of foreign antigens expressed by recombinant NAHV viruses, monolayers of CEF cells were infected with recombinant NAHV, overlaid with nutrient agarose media and incubated for 4-5 days at 39° C. Once plaques developed, the agarose overlay was removed from the dish, the monolayer rinsed IX with PBS, fixed with 100% methanol for 10 minutes at room temperature and the cells air-dried. After re-hydrating the plate with PBS, the primary antibody was diluted to the appropriate dilution with Blotto (5% non-fat milk/50mM Tris pH 7.5/154 mM NaCl) and incubated with the cell monolayer for 2 hours to overnight at room temperature. Unbound antibody was then removed from the cells by washing three times with PBS at room temperature. An alkaline phosphatase conjugated secondary antibody was diluted with Blotto and incubated with the cells for 2 hours at room temperature. Unbound secondary antibody was then removed by washing the cells three times with PBS at room temperature. Next, the monolayer was rinsed in color development buffer (100 mM Tris pH 9.5/ 100 mM NaCl/ 50 mM MgCl₂), and then incubated 10 minutes to overnight at room temperature with freshly prepared substrate solution (0.3 mg/ml Nitro Blue tetrazolium +0.15 mg/ml 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphatase in color development buffer.) Finally, the reaction was stopped by replacing the substrate solution with TE (10 mM Tris pH 7.5/ 1 mM EDTA). Plaques expressing the correct antigen stained a purplish-black color.

Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) Fusion Gene cDNA Cloning

[0056] cDNA cloning refers to the methods used to convert RNA molecules into DNA molecules. These methods are described in (U. Gubler and B. J. Hoffman, Gene 25, 263-269, 1983). These methods may also be accomplished through the use of various commercially available cDNA cloning kits.

[0057] For cloning NDV mRNA, primary chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells were infected at 5-10 plaque forming units per cell with the NDV B1 Hitchner strain (American Tissue Type Culture). When cytopathic effect was evident, but before total destruction, the medium was removed and the cells were lysed in 10 ml lysis buffer (4 M guanidine thiocyanate, 0.1% antifoam A, 25 mM sodium citrate pH 7.0, 0.5% N-lauroyl sarcosine, 0.1 M beta-metcaptoethanol). The cell lysate was poured into a sterilized Dounce homogenizer and homogenized on ice 8-10 times until the solution was homogenous. For RNA purification, 8 ml of cell lysate were gently layered over 3.5 ml of CsCl solution (5.7 M CsCl, 25 mM sodium citrate pH 7.0) in Beckman SW41 centrifuge tube. The samples were centrifuged for 18 hrs at 20° C at 36000 rpm in a Beckman SW41 rotor. The tubes were put on ice and the supernatants from the tubes were carefully removed by aspiration to leave the RNA pellet undisturbed. The pellet was resuspended in 400 μl glass distilled water, and 2.6 ml of guanidine solution (7.5 M guanidine-HCL, 25 mM sodium citrate pH 7.0, 5 mM dithiothreitol) were added. The 0.37 volumes of 1 M acetic acid were added, followed by 0.75 volumes of cold ethanol and the sample was put at −20° C. for 18 hrs to precipitate RNA. The precipitate was collected by centrifugation in a Sorvall centrifuge for 10 min a 4° C. at 10000 rpm in an SS34 rotor. The pellet was dissolved in 1.0 ml distilled water, centrifuged at 13000 rpm, and the supernatant saved. RNA was re-extracted from the pellet 2 more times as above with 0.5 ml distilled water, and the supernatants were pooled. A 0.1 volume of 2 M potassium acetate solution was added to the sample followed by 2 volumes of cold ethanol and the sample was put at −20° C. for 18 hrs. The precipitated RNA was collected by centrifugation in the SS34 rotor at 4° C. for 10 min at 10000 rpm. The pellet was dissolved in 1 ml distilled water and the concentration taken by absorption at A260/280. The RNA was stored at −70° C.

[0058] mRNA containing polyadenylate tails (poly-A) was selected using oligo-dT cellulose (Pharmacia #27 5543-0). Three mg of total RNA was boiled and chilled and applied to the 100 mg oligo-dT cellulose column in binding buffer (0.1 M Tris pH 7.5, 0.5 M LiCl, 5mM EDTA pH 8.0, 0.1% lithium dodecyl sulfate). The retained poly-A RNA was eluted from the column with elution buffer (5mM Tris pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA pH 8.0, 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate). This mRNA was reapplied to an oligo-dT column in binding buffer and eluted again in elution buffer. The sample was precipitated with 200 mM sodium acetate and 2 volumes cold ethanol at −20° C. for 18 hrs. The RNA was resuspended in 50 μl distilled water.

[0059] Ten μg poly-A RNA was denatured in 20 mM methyl mercury hydroxide for 6 min at 22° C. β-mercaptoethanol was added to 75 mM and the sample was incubated for 5 min at 22° C. The reaction mixture for first strand cDNA synthesis in 0.25 ml contained 1 μg oligo-dT primer (P-L Bio-chemicals) or 1 μg synthetic primer, 28 units placental ribonuclease inhibitor (Bethesda Research Labs #5518SA), 100 mM Tris pH 8.3, 140 mM KCl, 10 mM MgCl₂, 0.8 mM dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dTTP (Pharmacia), 100 microcuries ³²p-labeled dCTP (New England Nuclear #NEG-013H), and 180 units AMV reverse transcriptase (Molecular Genetics Resources #MG 101). The reaction was incubated at 42° C. for 90 min, and then was terminated with 20 mM EDTA pH 8.0. The sample was extracted with an equal volume of phenol/chloroform (1:1) and precipitated with 2 M ammonium acetate and 2 volumes of cold ethanol −20° C. for 3 hrs. After precipitation and centrifugation, the pellet was dissolved in 100 μl distilled water. The sample was loaded onto a 15 ml G-100 Sephadex column (Pharmacia) in buffer (100 mM Tris pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA pH 8.0, 100 mM NaCl). The leading edge of the eluted DNA fractions was pooled, and DNA was concentrated by lyophilization until the volume was about 100 μl, then the DNA was precipitated with ammonium acetate plus ethanol as above.

[0060] The entire first strand sample was used for second strand reaction which followed the Gubler and Hoffman (1983) method except that 50 μg/ml dNTP's, 5.4 units DNA polymerase I (Boehringer Mannheim #642-711), and 100 units/ml E. coli DNA ligase (New England Biolabs #205) in a total volume of 50 microliters were used. After second strand synthesis, the cDNA was phenol/chloroform extracted and precipitated. The DNA was resuspended in 10 μl distilled water, treated with 1 μg RNase A for 10 min at 22° C., and electrophoresed through a 1% agarose gel (Sigma Type II agarose) in 40 mM Tris-acetate pH 6.85. The gel was stained with ethidium bromide, and DNA in the expected size range was excised from the gel and electroeluted in 8 mM Tris-acetate pH 6.85. Electroeluted DNA was lyophilized to about 100 microliters, and precipitated with ammonium acetate and ethanol as above. The DNA was resuspended in 20 μl water.

[0061] Oligo-dC tails were added to the DNA to facilitate cloning. The reaction contained the DNA, 100 mM potassium cacodylate pH 7.2, 0.2 mM dithiothreitol, 2mM CaCl₂, 80 μmoles dCTP, and 25 units terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (Molecular Genetic Resources #S1001) in 50 μl. After 30 min at 37° C., the reaction was terminated with 10 mM EDTA, and the sample was phenol/chloroform extracted and precipitated as above.

[0062] The dC-tailed DNA sample was annealed to 200 ng plasmid vector pBR322 that contained oligo-dG tails (Bethesda Research Labs #5355 SA/SB) in 200 μl of 0.01 M Tris pH 7.5, 0.1 M NaCl, 1 mM EDTA pH 8.0 at 65° C. for 2 min and then 57° C. for 2 hrs. Fresh competent E. coli DH-1 cells were prepared and transformed as described by Hanahan (Molecular Biology 166, 557-580, 1983) using half the annealed cDNA sample in twenty 200 μl aliquots of cells. Transformed cells were plated on L-broth agar plates plus 10 μg/ml tetracycline. Colonies were screened for the presence of inserts into the ampicillin gene using Ampscreen (Bethesda Research Labs #5537 UA), and the positive colonies were picked for analysis. Resulting positive clones were screened for homology to paramyxovirus fusion gene sequences. A clone containing the complete coding sequence of the NDV fusion gene was identified. The sequence of this clone is given in SEQ ID: 1.

Subgenomic Clone 407-32.2C3

[0063] Cosmid 407-32.2C3 contains an approximately 40,000 base pair region of genomic HVT DNA (from the left terminus to position 39,750 GenBank Accession No. AF291866, see FIG. 2). This region includes NAHV BamHI fragments F′, L, P, N1, E, D, and 2,092 base pairs of fragment A′. Note: NAHV BamHI fragment A′, is called fragment B in HVT. This cosmid may be constructed as described above in the Procedure for Cloning NAHV Subgenomic DNA Fragments. It was isolated from the sheared DNA library by screening with the probes P1(HVT BamHI fragment F, position 116,948 to 125,961, Genbank Accession No. AF291866) and P2 (HVT BamHI fragment B, 37,663 to 63,593, Genbank Accession No. AF291866). A bacterial strain containing this cosmid has been deposited pursuant to the Budapest Treaty on the International Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Pat. Procedure with the Pat. Culture Depository of the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852 U.S.A. under ATCC Accession No. 75430.

Subgenomic Clone 172-07.BA2

[0064] Plasmid 172-07.BA2 contains a 25,947 base pair region of genomic HVT DNA. This plasmid was constructed using standard recombinant DNA techniques joining two restriction fragments from the following sources. The first fragment is a 2999 base pair BamHI to BamHI restriction fragment of pSP64 (Promega). The second fragment is the 25,947 base pair BamHI B fragment of HVT (position 37,663 to 63,593, GenBank Accession No. AF291866). Note: In the NAHV genome, this fragment is denoted as fragment A′, due to size considerations.

Subgenomic Clone 407-32.5G6

[0065] Cosmid 407-32.5G6 contains a 39,404 base pair region of genomic HVT DNA (position 61,852 to 101,255, Genbank Accession No. AF291866). This region includes NAHV BamHI fragments H, C, Q, K1, M, K2, plus 1,742 base pairs of fragment A′, and 3,880 base pairs of fragment J. Note: NAHV BamHI fragment A′, is called fragment B in HVT. This cosmid was constructed as described above in the Procedure for Cloning NAHV Subgenomic DNA Fragments. It was isolated from the sheared DNA library by screening with the probes P2 (HVT BamHI fragment B, 37,663 to 63,593, Genbank Accession No. AF291866) and P3 (HVT BamHI fragment J, position 97,376 to 102,720, Genbank Accession No. AF291866). A bacterial strain containing this cosmid has been deposited on Mar. 3, 1993 pursuant to the Budapest Treaty on the International Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure with the Patent Culture Depository of the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852 U.S.A. under ATCC Accession No. 75427.

Subgenomic Clone 407-32.1C1

[0066] Cosmid 407-32.1C1 contains a 37,444 base pair region of genomic HVT DNA (position 96,095 to 133,538, GenBank Accession No. AF291866, see FIG. 2). This region includes NAHV BamHI fragments J, G, I, F, O, plus 1,281 base pairs of fragment K2, and 6,691 base pairs of fragment B′. Note: NAHV BamHI fragment B′, is called fragment A in HVT. This cosmid was constructed as described above in the Procedure for Cloning NAHV Subgenomic DNA Fragments. It was isolated from the sheared DNA library by screening with the probes P1 (HVT BamHI fragment F, position 116,948 to 125,961, Genbank Accession No. AF291866) and P4 (4169 base pair Bg/II to StuI sub-fragment (position 132,088 to 136,256, GenBank Accession No. AF291866) of HVT XhoI fragment #5 (position 128,950 to 136,510, GenBank Accession No. AF291866)). Note: an internal StuI site occurs within the 4169 base pair sub-fragment (position 134,083, GenBank Accession No. AF291866). However this site is methylated and does not cleave in plasmid DNA prepared from standard cloning strains of bacteria. A bacterial strain containing this cosmid has been deposited on Mar. 3, 1993 pursuant to the Budapest Treaty on the International Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure with the Patent Culture Depository of the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Mar. 20852 U.S.A. under ATCC Accession No. 75428.

Subgenomic Clone 989-72.8 #1

[0067] The cosmid 989-72-8#1 contains the NAHV short region cloned into the cosmid pWE15 (Stratagene). To create a short region cosmid for the NAHV, the US region of MDV was joined with the short repeat regions of HVT by PCR amplification and standard cloning techniques. In this engineered cosmid, the complete MDV US region was used, but the short repeat regions of HVT were shortened to remove the US8 (gE) sequence. This avoids the inclusion of sequence homologous to the US8 gene within the MDV US. Cosmid 989-72.8-1 contains the following DNAs: 9,193 bp of the short repeat region from HVT BamHI B (position 126,848 to 136,040; GenBank Accession No. AF291866), an 8 bp synthetic Pac-I linker, 11,156 bp from the MDV US (position 66 to 11,221, GenBank Accession L22174), an 8 bp synthetic Pac-I linker, and a second HVT short repeat (position 136,040 to 126,848, GenBank Accession No. AF291866), inverted relative to the other repeat. The pWE15 cosmid vector, used to clone these DNAs, was modified by replacing the 64 bp multiple cloning site (EcoRI to EcoRI), with a 68 bp synthetic linker (EcoRI, I-Scel, NotI, BamHI, NotI, I-Scel, and EcoRI), to allow excision of the insert with the I-SceI enzyme.

[0068] Foreign DNA sequences are added into the NAHV genome at a KpnI site with in MDV US2 gene (position 4646, GenBank Accession L22174). The KpnI site interrupts this 270 amino acid coding region at approximately amino acid 85. Cloning appropriate foreign DNA sequence into the NAHV short region cosmid, 989-72.8#1 is KpnI site, creates Subgenomic clones used to introduce foreign genes.

Subgenomic Clone 1002-75.4

[0069] The cosmid 1002-75.4 contains a foreign gene encoding the fusion protein of the Newcastle disease virus inserted within the MDV US2 gene of the NAHV short region cosmid, 989-72.8#1. The NDV fusion gene (F) is under the control of the human cytomegalovirus immediate early (HCMV IE) promoter and utilizes the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV tk) poly adenylation signal (pA). This cosmid was created using standard DNA cloning techniques. The sequence of the foreign DNA inserted into cosmid 989-72.8#1 is given in SEQ ID 1. This sequence was inserted such that the NDV F and MDV US2 genes are transcribed in the same direction. The source of each region of the insert is indicated in the following table. TABLE 1 Source of foreign DNAs inserted into Subgenomic Clone 1002-75.4 Region Start^(a) End^(b) Source 1 1 36 Synthetic Linker HCMV genomic DNA (IL promoter cloned as 2 37 1189 described in US 5,830,745 and sequenced as described above) 3 1190 1200 Synthetic linker 4 1201 3004 NDV cDNA (F gene cloned and sequenced as described above) 5 3005 3025 Synthetic linker 6 3026 3548 HSV genomic DNA (tk pA position 37,694 to 37,172 GenBank Accession No. D10879) 7 3549 3570 Synthetic linker

Subgenomic Clone Vector 1012-89.2

[0070] The cosmid 1012-89.2 contains two foreign genes encoding the glycoprotein D and glycoprotein I of the infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) inserted in to the MDV US2 gene of the NAHV short region cosmid, 989-72.8#1. The ILTV genes are under the control of their endogenous promoters. This cosmid was created using standard DNA cloning techniques. The sequence of the foreign DNA inserted into cosmid 989-72.8#1 is given in SEQ ID 2. This sequence was inserted such that the ILTV gD gene and ILTV gI gene are transcribed in the opposite direction of the MDV US2 genes. The source of each region of the insert is indicated in the following table. Table 2: Source of foreign DNAs inserted into Subgenomic Clone 1012-89.2 Region Start^(a) Stop^(b) Source 1 1 18 Synthetic Linker ILTV genomic DNA (gD and gI genes (position 2 19 3581 10,532 to 14,094 Genbank Accession No. U28832) 3 3582 3605 Synthetic linker

EXAMPLES Example 1 The NAHV Designated NAHV 295-01 and the Marek's Disease Recombinant Vaccine (NAHV 295-01)

[0071] The NAHV 295-01 recombinant virus was generated according to the Procedure for Generating Novel Avian Herpesvirus from Overlapping Subgenomic Fragments. The following combination of subgenomic clones and enzymes were used: 989-72.8#1 with I-SceI, 407-32.2C3 with NotI, 172-07.BA2 with BamHI, 407-32.5G6 with NotI, and 407-32.1C1 with NotI. (The location of subgenomic clones on the resulting NAHV genome is indicated in FIG. 2.) The NAHV was shown to have the correct genomic structure using the Southern Blot Analysis of Novel Avian Herpesviruses. Stability of the NAHV 295-01 virus vaccine strain was demonstrated by serial passage 12 times in tissue culture followed by a second Southern blot analysis. This virus strain has been deposited pursuant to the Budapest Treaty on the International Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Pat. Procedure with the Pat. Culture Depository of the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852 U.S.A. under ATCC Accession No.______ .

[0072] The following studies were conducted to demonstrate the safety of the NAHV 295-01 vaccine, and its effectiveness in protecting against challenge with very virulent Marek's disease virus. In study 1, 18-day-old specific pathogen free (SPF) embryos, or one-day-old chicks were vaccinated with the NAHV 295-01 vaccine. As controls, additional groups of one-day-old chicks were vaccinated with one of two USDA-licensed, conventional vaccines comprised of either HVT or MDV-1/Rispens. Five days post-hatch, vaccinated chicks, and non-vaccinated, control chicks were challenged with virulent MDV/RB1B. Birds were then observed for clinical signs of disease for 7 weeks, then necropsied to examine for gross lesions. The results, in Table 3, show the NAHV 295-01 vaccine gave greater protection against very virulent Marek's disease challenge than either commercial vaccine. TABLE 3 Efficacy of the NAHV 295-01 Recombinant Vaccine Against Virulent Marek's Disease Virus Challenge Protection % Group Route Dose^(a) Challenge^(b) Ratio^(c) Protected Non-vac. — — — 25/25 — Non-vac. — — RB1B  1/30  3% NAHV in ovo 895 pfu RB1B 28/30 93% 295-01 NAHV SC 940 pfu RB1B 29/30 97% 295-01 HVT SC As per RB1B 18/30 60% label Rispens SC As per RB1B 27/30 90% label

[0073] In the second study, 18-day-old embryos or one-day-old SPF chicks were vaccinated with ten times the maximum dose of the NAHV 295-01 vaccine. The chicks were observed for 120 days for clinical signs of Marek's disease, then necropsied and examined for Marek's lesions. As controls, a third group of birds remained un-vaccinated, and a fourth group of un-vaccinated birds was challenged on day 4 with virulent MDV/RB1B to demonstrate that the birds were susceptible to Marek's disease. The results, in Table 4, demonstrate the safety of the NAHV 295-01 vaccine given in ovo (18-day-old embryos) or at one day-of-age. TABLE 4 Safety the NAHV 295-01 Recombinant Vaccine Following in ovo or Subcutaneous Injection with 10× Dose. Group Route Dose^(a) Challenge^(b) % MD^(c) Non-vac. — — — — Non-vac. — — RB1B 100%  NAHV 295-01 in ovo 20,000 pfu — 0% NAHV 295-01 SC 20,000 pfu — 0%

Example 2 The NAHV designated NAHV/NDV 295-93 and the Multivalent Marek's Disease/Newcastle Disease Recombinant Vaccine (NAHV/NDV 295-93)

[0074] The NAHV/NDV 295-93 recombinant virus was generated according to the Procedure for Generating Novel Avian Herpesvirus from Overlapping Subgenomic Fragments. The following combination of subgenomic clones and enzymes were used: 1002-75.4 with I-Scel, 407-32.2C3 with NotI, 172-07.BA2 with BamHI, 407-32.5G6 with NotI, and 407-32.1 Cl with NotI. (The location of subgenomic clones on the resulting NAHV genome is indicated in FIG. 2.) The NAHV was shown to have the correct genomic structure using the Southern Blot Analysis of Novel Avian Herpesviruses. Stability of the NAHV/NDV 295-93 virus vaccine strain was demonstrated by serial passage 12 times in tissue culture followed by a second Southern blot analysis. This virus strain has been deposited pursuant to the Budapest Treaty on the International Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure with the Patent Culture Depository of the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852 U.S.A. under ATCC Accession No.

[0075] The Black Plaque Assay for Foreign Gene Expression in Novel Avian Herpesvirus was used to demonstrate expression of the NDV fusion gene. The assay used a monoclonal antibody directed to the NDV fusion gene (3-1 G5) diluted 1:100 as the primary antibody. A goat anti-mouse alkaline phosphatase conjugated antibody diluted 1:1000 was used as the secondary antibody. Purity of the virus was demonstrated by assay of serial passage 12 stocks, 97.6% (1029/1054) of the viral plaques were black plaque positive.

[0076] The following studies were conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the NAHV/NDV 295-93 vaccine, in protecting against challenge with either virulent Newcastle disease virus, or very virulent Marek's disease virus. In Study 1, 18-day-old specific pathogen free (SPF) embryos, or one-day-old chicks were vaccinated with the NAHV/NDV 295-93 vaccine. As a control, a third group of one-day-old chicks remained un-vaccinated. Twenty-one days post-hatch, vaccinated chicks, and non-vaccinated, control chicks were challenged with virulent NDV/Texas GB strain. Birds were then observed for clinical signs of disease for fourteen days. The results, in Table 5, show the NAHV/NDV 295-93 vaccine gave better than 90% protection against virulent NDV. TABLE 5 Efficacy of the NAHV/NDV 295-93 Recombinant Vaccine Against Virulent Newcastle Disease Virus Challenge Group Route Dose^(a) Challenge^(b) % Protected^(c) Non-vac. — — — — Non-vac. — — Texas GB  0% NAHV/NDV in ovo 525 pfu Texas GB 90% 295-93 NAHV/NDV SC 707 pfu Texas GB 97% 295-93

[0077] In study two, 18-day-old embryos, or one-day-old SPF chicks were vaccinated with the NAHV/NDV 295-93 vaccine. As controls, additional groups of one-day-old chicks were vaccinated with one of two USDA-licensed, conventional vaccines comprised of either HVT or MDV-1/Rispens. Five days post-hatch, vaccinated chicks, and non-vaccinated, control chicks were challenged with virulent MDV/RB1B. Birds were observed for clinical signs of disease for 7 weeks, then necropsied to examine for gross lesions. The results, in Table 6, show the NAHV/NDV 295-93 vaccine protected against very virulent Marek's disease challenge. TABLE 6 Efficacy of the NAHV/NDV 295-93 Recombinant Vaccine Against Virulent Marek's Disease Virus Challenge Protection % Group Route Dose^(a) Challenge^(b) Ratio^(c) Protected Non-vac. — — — 25/25 — Non-vac. — — RB1B  1/30  3% NAHV/NDV in ovo 675 pfu RB1B 28/30 93% 295-93 NAHV/NDV SC 680 pfu RB1B 26/30 87% 295-93 HVT SC As per RB1B 18/30 60% label Rispens SC As per RB1B 27/30 90% label

Example 3 The NAHV Designated NAHV/ILT 295-149 and the Multivalent Marek's Disease/Infectious Laryngotracheitis Recombinant Vaccine (NAHV/ILT 295-149)

[0078] The NAHV/ILT 295-149 recombinant virus was generated according to the Procedure for Generating Novel Avian Herpesvirus from Overlapping Subgenomic Fragments. The following combination of subgenomic clones and enzymes were used: 1012-89.2 with I-SceI, 407-32.2C3 with NotI, 172-07.BA2 with BamHI, 407-32.5G6 with NotI, and 407-32.1C1 with NotI. (The location of subgenomic clones on the resulting NAHV genome is indicated in FIG. 2.) The NAHV was shown to have the correct genomic structure using the Southern Blot Analysis of Novel Avian Herpesviruses. Stability of the the NAHV/ILT 295-149 virus vaccine strain was demonstrated by serial passage 12 times in tissue culture followed by a second Southern blot analysis. This virus strain has been deposited pursuant to the Budapest Treaty on the International Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure with the Patent Culture Depository of the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852 U.S.A. under ATCC Accession No.______ .

[0079] The Black Plaque Assay for Foreign Gene Expression in Novel Avian Herpesvirus was used to demonstrate expression of the ILT glycoproteins. The assay used a convalescent ILT chicken sera (SPAFAS, Inc.) diluted 1:100 as the primary antibody. A goat anti-chicken alkaline phosphatase conjugated antibody diluted 1:1000 was used as the secondary antibody. Purity of the virus was demonstrated by assay of serial passage 12 stocks. 99.4% (1043/1049) of the viral plaques were black plaque positive.

[0080] The following studies were conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the NAHV/ILT 295-149 vaccine, in protecting against challenge with either virulent infectious laryngotracheitis virus, or very virulent Marek's disease virus. In study 1, 18-day-old specific pathogen free (SPF) embryos, or one-day-old chicks were vaccinated with the NAHV/ILT 295-149 vaccine. As controls, additional groups of one-day-old chicks either remained un-vaccinated, or were vaccinated with a USDA-licensed, conventional vaccine comprised of attenuated, live ILTV (LT-Ivax). Twenty-five days post-hatch, vaccinated chicks, and non-vaccinated, control chicks were challenged with virulent ILT/USDA LT-96-3. Birds were observed for clinical signs of disease for ten days, and then necropsied to examine for gross lesions. The results, in Table 7, show the NAHV/ILT 295-149 vaccine gave better protection against virulent ILT than the commercial vaccine. TABLE 7 Efficacy of the NAHV/ILT 295-149 Recombinant Vaccine Against Virulent Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus Challenge Group Route Dose^(a) Challenge^(b) % Protected^(c) Non-vac. — — — — Non-vac. — — ILT (USDA)  0% NAHV/ILT in ovo 750 pfu ILT (USDA) 100% 295-149 NAHV/ILT SC 750 pfu ILT (USDA) 100% 295-149 LT-Ivax Per label Per label ILT (USDA)  60%

[0081] In study two, 18-day-old embryos, or one-day-old SPF chicks were vaccinated with NAHV/ILT 295-149. As controls, additional groups of one-day-old chicks were vaccinated with a USDA-licensed, conventional vaccine comprised of MDV-1/Rispens, or left un-vaccinated. Five days post-hatch, vaccinated chicks, and non-vaccinated, control chicks were challenged with virulent MDV/RB1B. Birds were observed for clinical signs of disease for 7 weeks, then necropsied to examine for gross lesions. The results, in Table 8, show the NAHV/ILT 295-149 vaccine protected better against virulent Marek's disease challenge, than the commercial vaccine. TABLE 8 Efficacy of the NAHV/ILT 295-149 Recombinant Vaccine Against Virulent Marek's Disease Virus Challenge Protection % Group Route Dose^(a) Challenge^(b) Ratio^(c) Protected Non-vac. — — — 33/33 — Non-vac. — — RB1B  2/35  6% NAHV/ILT in ovo 1500 pfu RB1B 25/26 96% 295-149 NAHV/ILT SC 1500 pfu RB1B 32/34 94% 295-149 Rispens SC As per RB1B 26/33 79% label

[0082] Although certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that variation and modification of described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited to the extent required by the appended claims and the applicable rules of law.

1 5 1 3570 DNA Newcastle disease virus CDS (1194)..(2888) NDV Fusion Protein 1 gtacgttaat taacccggga agcttgcatg cctgcagtga ataataaaat gtgtgtttgt 60 ccgaaatacg cgttttgaga tttctgtcgc cgactaaatt catgtcgcgc gatagtggtg 120 tttatcgccg atagagatgg cgatattgga aaaatcgata tttgaaaata tggcatattg 180 aaaatgtcgc cgatgtgagt ttctgtgtaa ctgatatctg gcgatagcgc ttatatcgtt 240 tacgggggat ggcgatagac gactttggcg acttgggcga ttctgtgtgt cgcaaatatc 300 gcagtttcga tataggtgac agacgatatg aggctatatc gccgatagag gcgacatcaa 360 gctggcacat ggccaatgca tatcgatcta tacattgaat caatattggc aattagccat 420 attagtcatt ggttatatag cataaatcaa tattggctat tggccattgc atacgttgta 480 tctatatcat aatatgtaca tttatattgg ctcatgtcca atatgaccgc catgttgaca 540 ttgattattg actagttatt aatagtaatc aattacgggg tcattagttc atagcccata 600 tatggagttc cgcgttacat aacttacggt aaatggcccg cctggctgac cgcccaacga 660 cccccgccca ttgacgtcaa taatgacgta tgttcccata gtaacgccaa tagggacttt 720 ccattgacgt caatgggtgg agtatttacg gtaaactgcc cacttggcag tacatcaagt 780 gtatcatatg ccaagtccgc cccctattga cgtcaatgac ggtaaatggc ccgcctggca 840 ttatgcccag tacatgacct tacgggactt tcctacttgg cagtacatct acgtattagt 900 catcgctatt accatggtga tgcggttttg gcagtacacc aatgggcgtg gatagcggtt 960 tgactcacgg ggatttccaa gtctccaccc cattgacgtc aatgggagtt tgttttggca 1020 ccaaaatcaa cgggactttc caaaatgtcg taataacccc gccccgttga cgcaaatggg 1080 cggtaggcgt gtacggtggg aggtctatat aagcagagct cgtttagtga accgtcagat 1140 cgcctggaga cgccatccac gctgttttga cctccataga agacaccggg acc atg 1196 Met 1 gat cga tcc cgg ttg gcg ccc tcc agg tgc agg atg ggc tcc aga cct 1244 Asp Arg Ser Arg Leu Ala Pro Ser Arg Cys Arg Met Gly Ser Arg Pro 5 10 15 tct acc aag aac cca gca cct atg atg ctg act atc cgg gtc gcg ctg 1292 Ser Thr Lys Asn Pro Ala Pro Met Met Leu Thr Ile Arg Val Ala Leu 20 25 30 gta ctg agt tgc atc tgt ccg gca aac tcc att gat ggc agg cct ctt 1340 Val Leu Ser Cys Ile Cys Pro Ala Asn Ser Ile Asp Gly Arg Pro Leu 35 40 45 gca gct gca gga ctn tgg tta cag gag aca aag caa tca aca tat aca 1388 Ala Ala Ala Gly Xaa Trp Leu Gln Glu Thr Lys Gln Ser Thr Tyr Thr 50 55 60 65 cct cat ccc aga cag gtc aat cat att aag ctc ctc ccg aat ctg cca 1436 Pro His Pro Arg Gln Val Asn His Ile Lys Leu Leu Pro Asn Leu Pro 70 75 80 aag gat aag gag gca tgt gcg aaa gcc ccc ttg gat gca tac aac agg 1484 Lys Asp Lys Glu Ala Cys Ala Lys Ala Pro Leu Asp Ala Tyr Asn Arg 85 90 95 aca ttg acc act ttg ctc acc ccc ctt ggt gac tct atc cgt agg ata 1532 Thr Leu Thr Thr Leu Leu Thr Pro Leu Gly Asp Ser Ile Arg Arg Ile 100 105 110 caa gag tct gtg act aca tct gga ggg ggg aga cag ggg cgc ctt ata 1580 Gln Glu Ser Val Thr Thr Ser Gly Gly Gly Arg Gln Gly Arg Leu Ile 115 120 125 ggc gcc att att ggc ggt gtg gct ctt ggg gtt gca act gcc gca caa 1628 Gly Ala Ile Ile Gly Gly Val Ala Leu Gly Val Ala Thr Ala Ala Gln 130 135 140 145 ata aca gcg gcc gca gct ctg ata caa gcc aaa caa aat gct gcc aac 1676 Ile Thr Ala Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile Gln Ala Lys Gln Asn Ala Ala Asn 150 155 160 atc ctc cga ctt aaa gag agc att gcc gca acc aat gag gct gtg cat 1724 Ile Leu Arg Leu Lys Glu Ser Ile Ala Ala Thr Asn Glu Ala Val His 165 170 175 gag gtc act gac gga tta tcg caa cta gca gtg gca gtt ggg aag atg 1772 Glu Val Thr Asp Gly Leu Ser Gln Leu Ala Val Ala Val Gly Lys Met 180 185 190 cag cag ttc gtt aat gac caa ttt aat aaa aca gct cag gaa tta gac 1820 Gln Gln Phe Val Asn Asp Gln Phe Asn Lys Thr Ala Gln Glu Leu Asp 195 200 205 tgc atc aaa att gca cag caa gtt ggt gta gag ctc aac ctg tac cta 1868 Cys Ile Lys Ile Ala Gln Gln Val Gly Val Glu Leu Asn Leu Tyr Leu 210 215 220 225 acc gaa tcg act aca gta ttc gga cca caa atc act tca cct gcc tta 1916 Thr Glu Ser Thr Thr Val Phe Gly Pro Gln Ile Thr Ser Pro Ala Leu 230 235 240 aac aag ctg act att cag gca ctt tac aat cta gct ggt ggg aat atg 1964 Asn Lys Leu Thr Ile Gln Ala Leu Tyr Asn Leu Ala Gly Gly Asn Met 245 250 255 gat tac tta ttg act aag tta ggt ata ggg aac aat caa ctc agc tca 2012 Asp Tyr Leu Leu Thr Lys Leu Gly Ile Gly Asn Asn Gln Leu Ser Ser 260 265 270 tta atc ggt agc ggc tta atc acc ggt aac cct att cta tac gac tca 2060 Leu Ile Gly Ser Gly Leu Ile Thr Gly Asn Pro Ile Leu Tyr Asp Ser 275 280 285 cag act caa ctc ttg ggt ata cag gta act cta cct tca gtc ggg aac 2108 Gln Thr Gln Leu Leu Gly Ile Gln Val Thr Leu Pro Ser Val Gly Asn 290 295 300 305 cta aat aat atg cgt gcc acc tac ttg gaa acc tta tcc gta agc aca 2156 Leu Asn Asn Met Arg Ala Thr Tyr Leu Glu Thr Leu Ser Val Ser Thr 310 315 320 acc agg gga ttt gcc tcg gca ctt gtc cca aaa gtg gtg aca cgg gtc 2204 Thr Arg Gly Phe Ala Ser Ala Leu Val Pro Lys Val Val Thr Arg Val 325 330 335 ggt tct gtg ata gaa gaa ctt gac acc tca tac tgt ata gaa act gac 2252 Gly Ser Val Ile Glu Glu Leu Asp Thr Ser Tyr Cys Ile Glu Thr Asp 340 345 350 tta gat tta tat tgt aca aga ata gta acg ttc cct atg tcc cct ggt 2300 Leu Asp Leu Tyr Cys Thr Arg Ile Val Thr Phe Pro Met Ser Pro Gly 355 360 365 att tac tcc tgc ttg agc ggc aat aca tcg gcc tgt atg tac tca aag 2348 Ile Tyr Ser Cys Leu Ser Gly Asn Thr Ser Ala Cys Met Tyr Ser Lys 370 375 380 385 acc gaa ggc gca ctt act aca cca tat atg act atc aaa ggc tca gtc 2396 Thr Glu Gly Ala Leu Thr Thr Pro Tyr Met Thr Ile Lys Gly Ser Val 390 395 400 atc gct aac tgc aag atg aca aca tgt aga tgt gta aac ccc ccg ggt 2444 Ile Ala Asn Cys Lys Met Thr Thr Cys Arg Cys Val Asn Pro Pro Gly 405 410 415 atc ata tcg caa aac tat gga gaa gcc gtg tct cta ata gat aaa caa 2492 Ile Ile Ser Gln Asn Tyr Gly Glu Ala Val Ser Leu Ile Asp Lys Gln 420 425 430 tca tgc aat gtt tta tcc tta ggc ggg ata act tta agg ctc agt ggg 2540 Ser Cys Asn Val Leu Ser Leu Gly Gly Ile Thr Leu Arg Leu Ser Gly 435 440 445 gaa ttc gat gta act tat cag aag aat atc tca ata caa gat tct caa 2588 Glu Phe Asp Val Thr Tyr Gln Lys Asn Ile Ser Ile Gln Asp Ser Gln 450 455 460 465 gta ata ata aca ggc aat ctt gat atc tca act gag ctt ggg aat gtc 2636 Val Ile Ile Thr Gly Asn Leu Asp Ile Ser Thr Glu Leu Gly Asn Val 470 475 480 aac aac tcg atc agt aat gcc ttg aat aag tta gag gaa agc aac aga 2684 Asn Asn Ser Ile Ser Asn Ala Leu Asn Lys Leu Glu Glu Ser Asn Arg 485 490 495 aaa cta gac aaa gtc aat gtc aaa ctg acc agc aca tct gct ctc att 2732 Lys Leu Asp Lys Val Asn Val Lys Leu Thr Ser Thr Ser Ala Leu Ile 500 505 510 acc tat atc gtt ttg act atc ata tct ctt gtt ttt ggt ata ctt agc 2780 Thr Tyr Ile Val Leu Thr Ile Ile Ser Leu Val Phe Gly Ile Leu Ser 515 520 525 ctg att cta gca tgc tac cta atg tac aag caa aag gcg caa caa aag 2828 Leu Ile Leu Ala Cys Tyr Leu Met Tyr Lys Gln Lys Ala Gln Gln Lys 530 535 540 545 acc tta tta tgg ctt ggg aat aat acc cta gat cag atg aga gcc act 2876 Thr Leu Leu Trp Leu Gly Asn Asn Thr Leu Asp Gln Met Arg Ala Thr 550 555 560 aca aaa atg tga acacagatga ggaacgaagg tttccctaat agtaatttgt 2928 Thr Lys Met gtgaaagttc tggtagtctg tcagttcgga gagttaagaa aaaaaaaaaa cccccccccc 2988 cccccccccc cccccctggg tacgatcctc tagagtcggg agatggggga ggctaactga 3048 aacacggaag gagacaatac cggaaggaac ccgcgctatg acggcaataa aaagacagaa 3108 taaaacgcac gggtgttggg tcgtttgttc ataaacgcgg ggttcggtcc cagggctggc 3168 actctgtcga taccccaccg agaccccatt gggaccaata cgcccgcgtt tcttcctttt 3228 ccccacccca acccccaagt tcgggtgaag gcccagggct cgcagccaac gtcggggcgg 3288 caagccctgc catagccacg ggccccgtgg gttagggacg gggtccccca tggggaatgg 3348 tttatggttc gtgggggtta ttattttggg cgttgcgtgg ggtcaggtcc acgactggac 3408 tgagcagaca gacccatggt ttttggatgg cctgggcatg gaccgcatgt actggcgcga 3468 cacgaacacc gggcgtctgt ggctgccaaa cacccccgac ccccaaaaac caccgcgcgg 3528 atttctggcg ccgccggacg tcgacttaat taacaagctt ag 3570 2 564 PRT Newcastle disease virus misc_feature (54) Xaa = any amino acid 2 Met Asp Arg Ser Arg Leu Ala Pro Ser Arg Cys Arg Met Gly Ser Arg 1 5 10 15 Pro Ser Thr Lys Asn Pro Ala Pro Met Met Leu Thr Ile Arg Val Ala 20 25 30 Leu Val Leu Ser Cys Ile Cys Pro Ala Asn Ser Ile Asp Gly Arg Pro 35 40 45 Leu Ala Ala Ala Gly Xaa Trp Leu Gln Glu Thr Lys Gln Ser Thr Tyr 50 55 60 Thr Pro His Pro Arg Gln Val Asn His Ile Lys Leu Leu Pro Asn Leu 65 70 75 80 Pro Lys Asp Lys Glu Ala Cys Ala Lys Ala Pro Leu Asp Ala Tyr Asn 85 90 95 Arg Thr Leu Thr Thr Leu Leu Thr Pro Leu Gly Asp Ser Ile Arg Arg 100 105 110 Ile Gln Glu Ser Val Thr Thr Ser Gly Gly Gly Arg Gln Gly Arg Leu 115 120 125 Ile Gly Ala Ile Ile Gly Gly Val Ala Leu Gly Val Ala Thr Ala Ala 130 135 140 Gln Ile Thr Ala Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile Gln Ala Lys Gln Asn Ala Ala 145 150 155 160 Asn Ile Leu Arg Leu Lys Glu Ser Ile Ala Ala Thr Asn Glu Ala Val 165 170 175 His Glu Val Thr Asp Gly Leu Ser Gln Leu Ala Val Ala Val Gly Lys 180 185 190 Met Gln Gln Phe Val Asn Asp Gln Phe Asn Lys Thr Ala Gln Glu Leu 195 200 205 Asp Cys Ile Lys Ile Ala Gln Gln Val Gly Val Glu Leu Asn Leu Tyr 210 215 220 Leu Thr Glu Ser Thr Thr Val Phe Gly Pro Gln Ile Thr Ser Pro Ala 225 230 235 240 Leu Asn Lys Leu Thr Ile Gln Ala Leu Tyr Asn Leu Ala Gly Gly Asn 245 250 255 Met Asp Tyr Leu Leu Thr Lys Leu Gly Ile Gly Asn Asn Gln Leu Ser 260 265 270 Ser Leu Ile Gly Ser Gly Leu Ile Thr Gly Asn Pro Ile Leu Tyr Asp 275 280 285 Ser Gln Thr Gln Leu Leu Gly Ile Gln Val Thr Leu Pro Ser Val Gly 290 295 300 Asn Leu Asn Asn Met Arg Ala Thr Tyr Leu Glu Thr Leu Ser Val Ser 305 310 315 320 Thr Thr Arg Gly Phe Ala Ser Ala Leu Val Pro Lys Val Val Thr Arg 325 330 335 Val Gly Ser Val Ile Glu Glu Leu Asp Thr Ser Tyr Cys Ile Glu Thr 340 345 350 Asp Leu Asp Leu Tyr Cys Thr Arg Ile Val Thr Phe Pro Met Ser Pro 355 360 365 Gly Ile Tyr Ser Cys Leu Ser Gly Asn Thr Ser Ala Cys Met Tyr Ser 370 375 380 Lys Thr Glu Gly Ala Leu Thr Thr Pro Tyr Met Thr Ile Lys Gly Ser 385 390 395 400 Val Ile Ala Asn Cys Lys Met Thr Thr Cys Arg Cys Val Asn Pro Pro 405 410 415 Gly Ile Ile Ser Gln Asn Tyr Gly Glu Ala Val Ser Leu Ile Asp Lys 420 425 430 Gln Ser Cys Asn Val Leu Ser Leu Gly Gly Ile Thr Leu Arg Leu Ser 435 440 445 Gly Glu Phe Asp Val Thr Tyr Gln Lys Asn Ile Ser Ile Gln Asp Ser 450 455 460 Gln Val Ile Ile Thr Gly Asn Leu Asp Ile Ser Thr Glu Leu Gly Asn 465 470 475 480 Val Asn Asn Ser Ile Ser Asn Ala Leu Asn Lys Leu Glu Glu Ser Asn 485 490 495 Arg Lys Leu Asp Lys Val Asn Val Lys Leu Thr Ser Thr Ser Ala Leu 500 505 510 Ile Thr Tyr Ile Val Leu Thr Ile Ile Ser Leu Val Phe Gly Ile Leu 515 520 525 Ser Leu Ile Leu Ala Cys Tyr Leu Met Tyr Lys Gln Lys Ala Gln Gln 530 535 540 Lys Thr Leu Leu Trp Leu Gly Asn Asn Thr Leu Asp Gln Met Arg Ala 545 550 555 560 Thr Thr Lys Met 3 3605 DNA Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus CDS (585)..(1889) ILTV glycoprotein D 3 ctaagcttgt taattaagtc gacggcagag tcgcagacgc ccctattgga cgtcaaaatt 60 gtagaggtga agttttcaaa cgatggcgaa gtaacggcga cttgcgtttc caccgtcaaa 120 tctccctata gggtagaaac taattggaaa gtagacctcg tagatgtaat ggatgaaatt 180 tctgggaaca gtcccgccgg ggtttttaac agtaatgaga aatggcagaa acagctgtac 240 tacagagtaa ccgatggaag aacatcggtc cagctaatgt gcctgtcgtg cacgagccat 300 tctccggaac cttactgtct tttcgacacg tctcttatag cgagggaaaa agatatcgcg 360 ccagagttat actttacctc tgatccgcaa acggcatact gcacaataac tctgccgtcc 420 ggcgttgttc cgagattcga atggagcctt aataatgttt cactgccgga atatttgacg 480 gccacgaccg ttgtttcgca taccgctggc caaagtacag tgtggaagag cagcgcgaga 540 gcaggcgagg cgtggatttc tggccgggga ggcaatatat acga atg cac cgt cct 596 Met His Arg Pro 1 cat ctc aga cgg cac tcg cgt tac tac gcg aaa gga gag gtg ctt aac 644 His Leu Arg Arg His Ser Arg Tyr Tyr Ala Lys Gly Glu Val Leu Asn 5 10 15 20 aaa cac atg gat tgc ggt gga aaa cgg tgc tgc tca ggc gca gct gta 692 Lys His Met Asp Cys Gly Gly Lys Arg Cys Cys Ser Gly Ala Ala Val 25 30 35 ttc act ctt ttc tgg act tgt gtc agg att atg cgg gag cat atc tgc 740 Phe Thr Leu Phe Trp Thr Cys Val Arg Ile Met Arg Glu His Ile Cys 40 45 50 ttt gta cgc aac gct atg gac cgc cat tta ttt ttg agg aat gct ttt 788 Phe Val Arg Asn Ala Met Asp Arg His Leu Phe Leu Arg Asn Ala Phe 55 60 65 tgg act atc gta ctg ctt tct tcc ttc gct agc cag agc acc gcc gcc 836 Trp Thr Ile Val Leu Leu Ser Ser Phe Ala Ser Gln Ser Thr Ala Ala 70 75 80 gtc acg tac gac tac att tta ggc cgt cgc gcg ctc gac gcg cta acc 884 Val Thr Tyr Asp Tyr Ile Leu Gly Arg Arg Ala Leu Asp Ala Leu Thr 85 90 95 100 ata ccg gcg gtt ggc ccg tat aac aga tac ctc act agg gta tca aga 932 Ile Pro Ala Val Gly Pro Tyr Asn Arg Tyr Leu Thr Arg Val Ser Arg 105 110 115 ggc tgc gac gtt gtc gag ctc aac ccg att tct aac gtg gac gac atg 980 Gly Cys Asp Val Val Glu Leu Asn Pro Ile Ser Asn Val Asp Asp Met 120 125 130 ata tcg gcg gcc aaa gaa aaa gag aag ggg ggc cct ttc gag gcc tcc 1028 Ile Ser Ala Ala Lys Glu Lys Glu Lys Gly Gly Pro Phe Glu Ala Ser 135 140 145 gtc gtc tgg ttc tac gtg att aag ggc gac gac ggc gag gac aag tac 1076 Val Val Trp Phe Tyr Val Ile Lys Gly Asp Asp Gly Glu Asp Lys Tyr 150 155 160 tgt cca atc tat aga aaa gag tac agg gaa tgt ggc gac gta caa ctg 1124 Cys Pro Ile Tyr Arg Lys Glu Tyr Arg Glu Cys Gly Asp Val Gln Leu 165 170 175 180 cta tct gaa tgc gcc gtt caa tct gca cag atg tgg gca gtg gac tat 1172 Leu Ser Glu Cys Ala Val Gln Ser Ala Gln Met Trp Ala Val Asp Tyr 185 190 195 gtt cct agc acc ctt gta tcg cga aat ggc gcg gga ctg act ata ttc 1220 Val Pro Ser Thr Leu Val Ser Arg Asn Gly Ala Gly Leu Thr Ile Phe 200 205 210 tcc ccc act gct gcg ctc tct ggc caa tac ttg ctg acc ctg aaa atc 1268 Ser Pro Thr Ala Ala Leu Ser Gly Gln Tyr Leu Leu Thr Leu Lys Ile 215 220 225 ggg aga ttt gcg caa aca gct ctc gta act cta gaa gtt aac gat cgc 1316 Gly Arg Phe Ala Gln Thr Ala Leu Val Thr Leu Glu Val Asn Asp Arg 230 235 240 tgt tta aag atc ggg tcg cag ctt aac ttt tta ccg tcg aaa tgc tgg 1364 Cys Leu Lys Ile Gly Ser Gln Leu Asn Phe Leu Pro Ser Lys Cys Trp 245 250 255 260 aca aca gaa cag tat cag act gga ttt caa ggc gaa cac ctt tat ccg 1412 Thr Thr Glu Gln Tyr Gln Thr Gly Phe Gln Gly Glu His Leu Tyr Pro 265 270 275 atc gca gac acc aat aca cga cac gcg gac gac gta tat cgg gga tac 1460 Ile Ala Asp Thr Asn Thr Arg His Ala Asp Asp Val Tyr Arg Gly Tyr 280 285 290 gaa gat att ctg cag cgc tgg aat aat ttg ctg agg aaa aag aat cct 1508 Glu Asp Ile Leu Gln Arg Trp Asn Asn Leu Leu Arg Lys Lys Asn Pro 295 300 305 agc gcg cca gac cct cgt cca gat agc gtc ccg caa gaa att ccc gct 1556 Ser Ala Pro Asp Pro Arg Pro Asp Ser Val Pro Gln Glu Ile Pro Ala 310 315 320 gta acc aag aaa gcg gaa ggg cgc acc ccg gac gca gaa agc agc gaa 1604 Val Thr Lys Lys Ala Glu Gly Arg Thr Pro Asp Ala Glu Ser Ser Glu 325 330 335 340 aag aag gcc cct cca gaa gac tcg gag gac gac atg cag gca gag gct 1652 Lys Lys Ala Pro Pro Glu Asp Ser Glu Asp Asp Met Gln Ala Glu Ala 345 350 355 tct gga gaa aat cct gcc gcc ctc ccc gaa gac gac gaa gtc ccc gag 1700 Ser Gly Glu Asn Pro Ala Ala Leu Pro Glu Asp Asp Glu Val Pro Glu 360 365 370 gac acc gag cac gat gat cca aac tcg gat cct gac tat tac aat gac 1748 Asp Thr Glu His Asp Asp Pro Asn Ser Asp Pro Asp Tyr Tyr Asn Asp 375 380 385 atg ccc gcc gtg atc ccg gtg gag gag act act aaa agt tct aat gcc 1796 Met Pro Ala Val Ile Pro Val Glu Glu Thr Thr Lys Ser Ser Asn Ala 390 395 400 gtc tcc atg ccc ata ttc gcg gcg ttc gta gcc tgc gcg gtc gcg ctc 1844 Val Ser Met Pro Ile Phe Ala Ala Phe Val Ala Cys Ala Val Ala Leu 405 410 415 420 gtg ggg cta ctg gtt tgg agc atc gta aaa tgc gcg cgt agc taa 1889 Val Gly Leu Leu Val Trp Ser Ile Val Lys Cys Ala Arg Ser 425 430 tcgagcctag aataggtggt ttcttcctac atgccacgcc tcacgctcat aatataaatc 1949 acatggaata gcataccaat gcctattcat tgggacgttc gaaaagc atg gca tcg 2005 Met Ala Ser 435 cta ctt gga act ctg gct ctc ctt gcc gcg acg ctc gca ccc ttc ggc 2053 Leu Leu Gly Thr Leu Ala Leu Leu Ala Ala Thr Leu Ala Pro Phe Gly 440 445 450 gcg atg gga atc gtg atc act gga aat cac gtc tcc gcc agg att gac 2101 Ala Met Gly Ile Val Ile Thr Gly Asn His Val Ser Ala Arg Ile Asp 455 460 465 gac gat cac atc gtg atc gtc gcg cct cgc ccc gaa gct aca att caa 2149 Asp Asp His Ile Val Ile Val Ala Pro Arg Pro Glu Ala Thr Ile Gln 470 475 480 485 ctg cag cta ttt ttc atg cct ggc cag aga ccc cac aaa ccc tac tca 2197 Leu Gln Leu Phe Phe Met Pro Gly Gln Arg Pro His Lys Pro Tyr Ser 490 495 500 gga acc gtc cgc gtc gcg ttt cgg tct gat ata aca aac cag tgc tac 2245 Gly Thr Val Arg Val Ala Phe Arg Ser Asp Ile Thr Asn Gln Cys Tyr 505 510 515 cag gaa ctt agc gag gag cgc ttt gaa aat tgc act cat cga tcg tct 2293 Gln Glu Leu Ser Glu Glu Arg Phe Glu Asn Cys Thr His Arg Ser Ser 520 525 530 tct gtt ttt gtc ggc tgt aaa gtg acc gag tac acg ttc tcc gcc tcg 2341 Ser Val Phe Val Gly Cys Lys Val Thr Glu Tyr Thr Phe Ser Ala Ser 535 540 545 aac aga cta acc gga cct cca cac ccg ttt aag ctc act ata cga aat 2389 Asn Arg Leu Thr Gly Pro Pro His Pro Phe Lys Leu Thr Ile Arg Asn 550 555 560 565 cct cgt ccg aac gac agc ggg atg ttc tac gta att gtt cgg cta gac 2437 Pro Arg Pro Asn Asp Ser Gly Met Phe Tyr Val Ile Val Arg Leu Asp 570 575 580 gac acc aaa gaa ccc att gac gtc ttc gcg atc caa cta tcg gtg tat 2485 Asp Thr Lys Glu Pro Ile Asp Val Phe Ala Ile Gln Leu Ser Val Tyr 585 590 595 caa ttc gcg aac acc gcc gcg act cgc gga ctc tat tcc aag gct tcg 2533 Gln Phe Ala Asn Thr Ala Ala Thr Arg Gly Leu Tyr Ser Lys Ala Ser 600 605 610 tgt cgc acc ttc gga tta cct acc gtc caa ctt gag gcc tat ctc agg 2581 Cys Arg Thr Phe Gly Leu Pro Thr Val Gln Leu Glu Ala Tyr Leu Arg 615 620 625 acc gag gaa agt tgg cgc aac tgg caa gcg tac gtt gcc acg gag gcc 2629 Thr Glu Glu Ser Trp Arg Asn Trp Gln Ala Tyr Val Ala Thr Glu Ala 630 635 640 645 acg acg acc agc gcc gag gcg aca acc ccg acg ccc gtc act gca acc 2677 Thr Thr Thr Ser Ala Glu Ala Thr Thr Pro Thr Pro Val Thr Ala Thr 650 655 660 agc gcc tcc gaa ctt gaa gcg gaa cac ttt acc ttt ccc tgg cta gaa 2725 Ser Ala Ser Glu Leu Glu Ala Glu His Phe Thr Phe Pro Trp Leu Glu 665 670 675 aat ggc gtg gat cat tac gaa ccg aca ccc gca aac gaa aat tca aac 2773 Asn Gly Val Asp His Tyr Glu Pro Thr Pro Ala Asn Glu Asn Ser Asn 680 685 690 gtt act gtc cgt ctc ggg aca atg agc cct acg cta att ggg gta acc 2821 Val Thr Val Arg Leu Gly Thr Met Ser Pro Thr Leu Ile Gly Val Thr 695 700 705 gtg gct gcc gtc gtg agc gca acg atc ggc ctc gtc att gta att tcc 2869 Val Ala Ala Val Val Ser Ala Thr Ile Gly Leu Val Ile Val Ile Ser 710 715 720 725 atc gtc acc aga aac atg tgc acc ccg cac cga aaa tta gac acg gtc 2917 Ile Val Thr Arg Asn Met Cys Thr Pro His Arg Lys Leu Asp Thr Val 730 735 740 tcg caa gac gac gaa gaa cgt tcc caa act aga agg gaa tcg cga aaa 2965 Ser Gln Asp Asp Glu Glu Arg Ser Gln Thr Arg Arg Glu Ser Arg Lys 745 750 755 ttt gga ccc atg gtt gcg tgc gaa ata aac aag ggg gct gac cag gat 3013 Phe Gly Pro Met Val Ala Cys Glu Ile Asn Lys Gly Ala Asp Gln Asp 760 765 770 agt gaa ctt gtg gaa ctg gtt gcg att gtt aac ccg tct gcg cta agc 3061 Ser Glu Leu Val Glu Leu Val Ala Ile Val Asn Pro Ser Ala Leu Ser 775 780 785 tcg ccc gac tca ata aaa atg tga ttaagtctga atgtggctct ccaatcattt 3115 Ser Pro Asp Ser Ile Lys Met 790 795 cgattctcta atctcccaat cctctcaaaa ggggcagtat cggacacgga ctgggagggg 3175 cgtacacgat agttatatgg tacagcagag gcctctgaac acttaggagg agaattcagc 3235 cggggagagc ccctgttgag taggcttggg agcatattgc aggatgaaca tgttagtgat 3295 agttctcgcc tcttgtcttg cgcgcctaac ttttgcgacg cgacacgtcc tctttttgga 3355 aggcactcag gctgtcctcg gggaagatga tcccagaaac gttccggaag ggactgtaat 3415 caaatggaca aaagtcctgc ggaacgcgtg caagatgaag gcggccgatg tctgctcttc 3475 gcctaactat tgctttcatg atttaattta cgacggagga aagaaagact gcccgcccgc 3535 gggacccctg tctgcaaacc tggtaatttt actaaagcgc ggcgaaagct tcccgggtta 3595 attaacgtac 3605 4 434 PRT Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus 4 Met His Arg Pro His Leu Arg Arg His Ser Arg Tyr Tyr Ala Lys Gly 1 5 10 15 Glu Val Leu Asn Lys His Met Asp Cys Gly Gly Lys Arg Cys Cys Ser 20 25 30 Gly Ala Ala Val Phe Thr Leu Phe Trp Thr Cys Val Arg Ile Met Arg 35 40 45 Glu His Ile Cys Phe Val Arg Asn Ala Met Asp Arg His Leu Phe Leu 50 55 60 Arg Asn Ala Phe Trp Thr Ile Val Leu Leu Ser Ser Phe Ala Ser Gln 65 70 75 80 Ser Thr Ala Ala Val Thr Tyr Asp Tyr Ile Leu Gly Arg Arg Ala Leu 85 90 95 Asp Ala Leu Thr Ile Pro Ala Val Gly Pro Tyr Asn Arg Tyr Leu Thr 100 105 110 Arg Val Ser Arg Gly Cys Asp Val Val Glu Leu Asn Pro Ile Ser Asn 115 120 125 Val Asp Asp Met Ile Ser Ala Ala Lys Glu Lys Glu Lys Gly Gly Pro 130 135 140 Phe Glu Ala Ser Val Val Trp Phe Tyr Val Ile Lys Gly Asp Asp Gly 145 150 155 160 Glu Asp Lys Tyr Cys Pro Ile Tyr Arg Lys Glu Tyr Arg Glu Cys Gly 165 170 175 Asp Val Gln Leu Leu Ser Glu Cys Ala Val Gln Ser Ala Gln Met Trp 180 185 190 Ala Val Asp Tyr Val Pro Ser Thr Leu Val Ser Arg Asn Gly Ala Gly 195 200 205 Leu Thr Ile Phe Ser Pro Thr Ala Ala Leu Ser Gly Gln Tyr Leu Leu 210 215 220 Thr Leu Lys Ile Gly Arg Phe Ala Gln Thr Ala Leu Val Thr Leu Glu 225 230 235 240 Val Asn Asp Arg Cys Leu Lys Ile Gly Ser Gln Leu Asn Phe Leu Pro 245 250 255 Ser Lys Cys Trp Thr Thr Glu Gln Tyr Gln Thr Gly Phe Gln Gly Glu 260 265 270 His Leu Tyr Pro Ile Ala Asp Thr Asn Thr Arg His Ala Asp Asp Val 275 280 285 Tyr Arg Gly Tyr Glu Asp Ile Leu Gln Arg Trp Asn Asn Leu Leu Arg 290 295 300 Lys Lys Asn Pro Ser Ala Pro Asp Pro Arg Pro Asp Ser Val Pro Gln 305 310 315 320 Glu Ile Pro Ala Val Thr Lys Lys Ala Glu Gly Arg Thr Pro Asp Ala 325 330 335 Glu Ser Ser Glu Lys Lys Ala Pro Pro Glu Asp Ser Glu Asp Asp Met 340 345 350 Gln Ala Glu Ala Ser Gly Glu Asn Pro Ala Ala Leu Pro Glu Asp Asp 355 360 365 Glu Val Pro Glu Asp Thr Glu His Asp Asp Pro Asn Ser Asp Pro Asp 370 375 380 Tyr Tyr Asn Asp Met Pro Ala Val Ile Pro Val Glu Glu Thr Thr Lys 385 390 395 400 Ser Ser Asn Ala Val Ser Met Pro Ile Phe Ala Ala Phe Val Ala Cys 405 410 415 Ala Val Ala Leu Val Gly Leu Leu Val Trp Ser Ile Val Lys Cys Ala 420 425 430 Arg Ser 5 362 PRT Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus 5 Met Ala Ser Leu Leu Gly Thr Leu Ala Leu Leu Ala Ala Thr Leu Ala 1 5 10 15 Pro Phe Gly Ala Met Gly Ile Val Ile Thr Gly Asn His Val Ser Ala 20 25 30 Arg Ile Asp Asp Asp His Ile Val Ile Val Ala Pro Arg Pro Glu Ala 35 40 45 Thr Ile Gln Leu Gln Leu Phe Phe Met Pro Gly Gln Arg Pro His Lys 50 55 60 Pro Tyr Ser Gly Thr Val Arg Val Ala Phe Arg Ser Asp Ile Thr Asn 65 70 75 80 Gln Cys Tyr Gln Glu Leu Ser Glu Glu Arg Phe Glu Asn Cys Thr His 85 90 95 Arg Ser Ser Ser Val Phe Val Gly Cys Lys Val Thr Glu Tyr Thr Phe 100 105 110 Ser Ala Ser Asn Arg Leu Thr Gly Pro Pro His Pro Phe Lys Leu Thr 115 120 125 Ile Arg Asn Pro Arg Pro Asn Asp Ser Gly Met Phe Tyr Val Ile Val 130 135 140 Arg Leu Asp Asp Thr Lys Glu Pro Ile Asp Val Phe Ala Ile Gln Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Val Tyr Gln Phe Ala Asn Thr Ala Ala Thr Arg Gly Leu Tyr Ser 165 170 175 Lys Ala Ser Cys Arg Thr Phe Gly Leu Pro Thr Val Gln Leu Glu Ala 180 185 190 Tyr Leu Arg Thr Glu Glu Ser Trp Arg Asn Trp Gln Ala Tyr Val Ala 195 200 205 Thr Glu Ala Thr Thr Thr Ser Ala Glu Ala Thr Thr Pro Thr Pro Val 210 215 220 Thr Ala Thr Ser Ala Ser Glu Leu Glu Ala Glu His Phe Thr Phe Pro 225 230 235 240 Trp Leu Glu Asn Gly Val Asp His Tyr Glu Pro Thr Pro Ala Asn Glu 245 250 255 Asn Ser Asn Val Thr Val Arg Leu Gly Thr Met Ser Pro Thr Leu Ile 260 265 270 Gly Val Thr Val Ala Ala Val Val Ser Ala Thr Ile Gly Leu Val Ile 275 280 285 Val Ile Ser Ile Val Thr Arg Asn Met Cys Thr Pro His Arg Lys Leu 290 295 300 Asp Thr Val Ser Gln Asp Asp Glu Glu Arg Ser Gln Thr Arg Arg Glu 305 310 315 320 Ser Arg Lys Phe Gly Pro Met Val Ala Cys Glu Ile Asn Lys Gly Ala 325 330 335 Asp Gln Asp Ser Glu Leu Val Glu Leu Val Ala Ile Val Asn Pro Ser 340 345 350 Ala Leu Ser Ser Pro Asp Ser Ile Lys Met 355 360 

What is claimed is:
 1. A recombinant avian herpesvirus comprising a herpes virus of turkeys unique long and repeat viral genome region and a Marek's disease virus unique short viral genome region wherein at least one foreign DNA sequence is inserted within a US2 gene of the unique short region of the recombinant avian herpesvirus and is capable of being expressed in a host cell.
 2. The recombinant avian herpesvirus of claim 1 wherein the foreign DNA sequence is selected from the group consisting of: a Newcastle disease virus fusion gene, an infectious laryngotracheitis virus glycoprotein D gene, or an infectious laryngotracheitis glycoprotein I gene.
 3. The recombinant avian herpesvirus of claim 2 wherein the foreign DNA sequence is the Newcastle disease virus fusion gene.
 4. The recombinant avian herpesvirus of claim 3 designated NAHVINDV 295-93 (ATCC Accession number VR______).
 5. The recombinant avian herpesvirus of claim 2 wherein the foreign DNA sequence is the infectious laryngotracheitis virus glycoprotein D gene.
 6. The recombinant avian herpesvirus of claim 2 wherein the foreign DNA sequence is the infectious laryngotracheitis virus glycoprotein I gene.
 7. The recombinant avian herpesvirus of claim 2 wherein the foreign DNA sequences are the infectious laryngotracheitis virus glycoprotein D gene and the infectious laryngotracheitis virus glycoprotein I gene.
 8. The recombinant avian herpesvirus of claim 7 designated NAHV/ILT 295-149 (ATCC Accession number VR______).
 9. The recombinant avian herpesvirus of claim 2 wherein the foreign DNA sequences are the Newcastle disease virus fusion gene, the infectious laryngotracheitis virus glycoprotein D gene and the infectious laryngotracheitis virus glycoprotein I gene.
 10. The recombinant avian herpesvirus designated NAHV 295-01 (ATCC Accession number VR______).
 11. A vaccine for protecting against Newcastle disease comprising an effective immunizing amount of the recombinant avian herpesvirus of claim 3 and a suitable carrier.
 12. A vaccine for protecting against Newcastle disease comprising an effective immunizing amount of the recombinant avian herpesvirus of claim 4 and a suitable carrier.
 13. A vaccine for protecting against infectious laryngotracheitis comprising an effective immunizing amount of the recombinant avian herpesvirus of claim 7 and a suitable carrier.
 14. A vaccine for protecting against infectious laryngotracheitis comprising an effective immunizing amount of the recombinant avian herpesvirus of claim 8 and a suitable carrier.
 15. A vaccine for protecting against Marek's disease comprising an effective immunizing amount of the recombinant avian herpesvirus of claim
 10. 16. A multivalent vaccine for protecting against Marek's disease, infectious laryngotracheitis and Newcastle disease comprising an effective immunizing amount of the recombinant avian herpesvirus of claim 9 and a suitable carrier.
 17. A multivalent vaccine for protecting against Marek's disease, infectious laryngotracheitis and Newcastle disease comprising, as a mixture, an effective immunizing amount of a first recombinant avian herpesvirus, designated NAHV/ILT 295-149 (ATCC Accession number VR______), an effective immunizing amount of a second recombinant avian herpesvirus, designated NAHV/NDV 295-93 (ATCC Accession number VR______), and a suitable carrier.
 18. A method of immunizing an avian species against Newcastle disease comprising administering to the avian species an effective immunizing amount of the vaccine of claim
 11. 19. A method of immunizing an avian species against Newcastle disease comprising administering to the avian species an effective immunizing amount of the vaccine of claim
 12. 20. A method of immunizing an avian species against infectious laryngotracheitis comprising administering to the avian species an effective immunizing amount of the vaccine of claim
 13. 21. A method of immunizing an avian species against infectious laryngotracheitis comprising administering to the avian species an effective immunizing amount of the vaccine of claim
 14. 22. A method of immunizing an avian species against Marek's disease comprising administering to the avian species an effective immunizing amount of the vaccine of vaccine of claim
 15. 23. A method of immunizing an avian species against Marek's disease, infectious laryngotracheitis and Newcastle disease comprising administering to the avian species an effective immunizing amount of the vaccine of claim
 16. 24. The vaccine as in claim 11 wherein the suitable carrier is a physiologically balanced culture medium containing stabilizing agents.
 25. The vaccine as in claim 13 wherein the suitable carrier is a physiologically balanced culture medium containing stabilizing agents.
 26. The vaccine as in claim 15 wherein the suitable carrier is a physiologically balanced culture medium containing stabilizing agents.
 27. The vaccine as in claim 16 wherein the suitable carrier is a physiologically balanced culture medium containing stabilizing agents.
 28. The method of claim 18, wherein the vaccine is administered by injection.
 29. The method of claim 20, wherein the vaccine is administered by injection.
 30. The method of claim 22, wherein the vaccine is administered by injection.
 31. The method of claim 23, wherein the vaccine is administered by injection.
 32. The method of claim 18, wherein the vaccine is administered intraocularly.
 33. The method of claim 20, wherein the vaccine is administered intraocularly.
 34. The method of claim 22, wherein the vaccine is administered intraocularly.
 35. The method of claim 23, wherein the vaccine is administered intraocularly.
 36. The method of claim 18, wherein the vaccine is administered orally.
 37. The method of claim 20, wherein the vaccine is administered orally.
 38. The method of claim 22, wherein the vaccine is administered orally.
 39. The method of claim 23, wherein the vaccine is administered orally. 